Flat-tire signal.



D. D. GETMAN.

FLAT TIRE SIGNAL.

wPLlcATloN man MAR.3.1917.

1 28,204. Patented May 29, 19u.

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Wl TNE SES DAV/DB GIE TMAN A ATTOR/YEYS.

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DAVID D. GETMAN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 JOSEPH P. STERNHAGEN, OF GLASGOW, MONTANA.

FLAT-TIRE SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed March 3, 1917. Serial No. 152,268.

To all '1e/unit 'it 'may concern.'

Be it known that l,`l)i\vin D. GETMAN, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flatflire Signals, of which the following is a specification.

ln the operation of a' vehicle equipped with pnemnatic tires, one or more 0f them oi'ten becomes puncturcd and the driver of-the ca r may run it for a considerable distance, sullicient io seriously damage the tire or the rim, before discovering that a puncture has occurred.

'.lhe object of my invention is to provide an attachmei-lt lor the tire which will instantly warn the driver as soon as the air has escaped from the inner tube.

The-invention consists Agenerally in various consti-notions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. l f

ln the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification, l

F igure` 1 is a view, partially in section, of a wheelequipped with a pneumatic tire, with my attachment applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view, showing the manner olf fastening the attachment to the casing,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View, with the tube inflated,

Fig. 4 is a similar View, with the tube deiiated,

F ig. 5 is a detail view ol the attachment removed from the tire.

In the drawing, 2 represents a wheel rim, having.,r the usual flanges 3 'for engaging the lips 4 of the tire casing 6 is the` inner tube. When this tube becomes pnnctured, the wheel will drop and unless the accident is quickly repaired, serious damage will result to the outer casing and inner tube, as. well as the wheel.

As a means for Warning the driver when a puncture occurs, I provide a block 7, preferably provided with inner surfaces 8, which lit the inner walls oi the casing and with an outer surface 9 that is seated against the inner tube. This block may be made of any suitable material and varied in size and shape, according to the style of the casing with which it is'used. A strip 10 of flexible y material is preferably seated within said block and projects outwardly therefrom, and a hook device 1l is mounted thereon for en gaging'a lip a of the casing for holding the block in place while the tube is being inflated. ll'hen the tube has been inflated to the desired pressure its walls, bearing on the outer face of the. block, will hold it firmly against the walls ot' the casing and prevent it from slipping out of place while the tire is in use. .ln case of puncture and deation of the tube, the tread of the casino' will flatten out and the collapsing of the tu ewill allow the load ol thcvehicle to be transmitted directly from the tread of the casing upon the block and with every revolution of the wheel a .bumping or jarring movement will take place and the driver will be instantly warned that the tire has punctured and needs attention.

In various ways'the details of constnne- I tion herein shown and described may be modified and still be within the scope'of my invention.

`I claim as my invention:

1. ln combination, with a pneumatic tire and means normally held by the inflated tube out of contact with the'tire tread but allowed to press thereon at a point in the circumference of the tire` when the tube is deilated, said means being mounted on the tire easing between it and the inner wall of the tube.

Q. In combination, with a pneumatic tire, and means inserted between the inner Wall of .the tube and the flanges of the casing for bearing on the tread of the casing when the tube is deflated and producing a bumping or jarring with each turn of thewheel.

3. Inv combination, with a pneumatic tire, a block inserted between the inner Wall of the tube and the {ianges of the casing for bearing on the tread 'of the casing when the tube is deiated, Jfor the purpose specified.

4. ln combination, with a pneumatic tire, a block l ravi n g surfaces for fitting the Hanges of the casing and the'surfaces of the tube land having means for connection with the tire casing. Isaid block bearing on the tread of ille. casing when the tube is deflated.

Tn witness whereof. l have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of February. 1917. DAVID D. GETMAN.v 

